Schneider-Creusot
| Industry | Iron and steel production, armaments manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1836 |
| Founder | Adolphe Schneider, Eugène Schneider |
| Fate | Taken over by Belgian Empain group in the 1960s; merged to form Empain-Schneider in 1969; renamed Schneider SA in 1980; transformed into Schneider Electric by end of 1990s |
| Successor | Empain-Schneider (1969), Schneider SA (1980), Schneider Electric (1990s) |
| Headquarters | Le Creusot , France |
Key people | Jacques Schneider (sponsor of Schneider Trophy) |
| Products | Iron, steel, armaments, machinery, vehicles, ships, artillery, tanks |
| Owner | Belgian Empain group (from 1960s) |
Schneider et Compagnie, frequently referred to as Schneider-Creusot, named after its origin in the town of Le Creusot, was a prominent French enterprise specializing in iron and steel production that later became a leading manufacturer of armaments. During the 1960s, the company was taken over by the Belgian Empain group and subsequently merged in 1969, creating Empain-Schneider. This entity was renamed Schneider SA in 1980 and underwent a transformation into Schneider Electric by the end of the 1990s.
Origins
The foundation of the company dates back to 1836 when brothers Adolphe Schneider and Eugène Schneider purchased iron ore mines and forges located in Le Creusot (Saône-et-Loire). They expanded their operations into steel manufacturing, railway construction, armament production, and shipbuilding industries.
A notable emblem of their industrial capability was the Creusot steam hammer, constructed in 1877.
Their subsidiary near Paris, Somua, specialized in manufacturing machinery and vehicles, including the distinguished SOMUA S35 tank.
Vehicles
- Schneider CA1, recognized as France's inaugural tank
- Schneider-Creusot 030-T steam locomotive
- Schneider Coast Defense Train
Ships
- Ferré-class submarine, consisting of two submarines built for the Peruvian Navy
- A Circé-class submarine
Mountain guns
- 75 mm Schneider-Danglis 06/09
- Canon de 75 M(montagne) modele 1919 Schneider
- Canon de 75 M(montagne) modele 1928
- 76 mm mountain gun M1909
Other artillery
- Canet guns
- Multiple variants of the renowned Canon de 75 modèle 1897 series along with later designs
- Heavy artillery pieces such as the Canon de 85 modèle 1927 Schneider, Canon de 105 modèle 1930 Schneider, and siege weapons including the 155 mm Creusot Long Tom
- Mortars like the Mortier de 220 modèle 1915/1916 Schneider and Mortier de 280 modèle 1914 Schneider
Schneider Trophy
Beginning in 1911, Jacques Schneider initiated sponsorship of the Schneider Trophy, an esteemed seaplane competition offering a substantial prize, which significantly boosted the company's reputation within aviation innovation circles.
See also
- Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde, affiliated with the Schneider group from 1882 to 1927
- Somua, a truck manufacturer acquired in 1914 and later sold to Renault in 1955
- De Wendel family, notable industrial rivals
- Société Métallurgique de Normandie
Further reading
- Grant, Jonathan A., Between Depression and Disarmament: The International Armaments Business, 1919-1939 (Cambridge UP, 2018)
- Podevijn, Dirk, La SA Schneider : un géant de l’industrie et de la finance (2013)